Sermons preached

3. These Earthly Things which are thus variously dispensed, are only useful to us during the present Life in the mortal Body. In Heaven we have no need of these things, and we must leave them all on this side the Grave. 1 Cor. 6. 13. Meats for the Belly, and the Belly for Meats, but God shall destroy both it and them. Meats are appointed by God and Nature for the use of Men, and the Body of Man in this Life hath absolute necessity of them; but in the next Life, which is a Spiritual Life, this eating and desiring of Meat shall be taken away. It is a Mercy to have Meat when we are Hungry, and Garments to cover our Nakedness when Cold, but it is a greater Mercy to be above these Necessities. Well now, this Life is but short and uncertain, it is but a coming into the World, and a going out again. Job 1. 21. 1 Tim. 6. 7. We brought nothing into this World, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. Now we that are ready to step into another World, and are certain within a short time to be stripped for ever of all these things, what great matter is it if God keep us low and bare? All will shortly be as poor as you, and a little time should make but a little difference. That is not our true ⟨p. 236⟩Wealth and Riches which we cannot carry away with us; what is left behind is not ours, but other Mens: and therefore whilst you are alive you should not be much troubled about that which you cannot enjoy when you are dead. If we have what will serve for our Passage, what should we do with more? We cannot carry away our Riches along with us, but the Sting and Guilt of misenjoying them and misemploying them, will be sure to stick by us both in Death and Judgment. It is not the Possession, but the Use that will comfort us. Though we cannot carry our Estates into the other World, yet the comfort of a good Conscience we may carry with us. Their Works follow them, Rev. 14. 13. Then they go to enjoy the Eternal reward of Bliss and Peace, for their hard and painful Service here in the World.